Flexible clamp-joint.



C. P. KLOPERi FL'iXBLE CLAMP 105m'. APPLicATmN msn MAR.9|1914.

Patened Api?. 27, 191:5.

u Qmaomn UNITED sfrairss ,Para

onirica.

CHARLES 1. momia, or naar coNmuUGH, rENNsYLvANrA, AssIGNon or Two- 'rmnns To Josera E. zeno, or JoHNsrowN, rENNsYLvANu.

FLEXIBLE CLAMP-Jorim Specification o! Letters Patent.

Application led March 9, 1914. Serial 1(1). 823,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'CHARLES P. KLoREB,

I citizen of the United States, residing at East Conemau h, in the county of Cambria'p and State of ennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Flexible Clamp-Joints, of which the followin is aspeciiication.

y 'invention relates to adjustable jointV 1 positionrelative to each other.

`The main object of my in'vention is to provide a very simple and effective form of clamp l,connection between two elements, the planesot which intersect, so that the elements maybe readily shifted longitudinally relative to each other and as readily clamped so firmly in their adjusted positions that they can not be accidentally shifted therefrom. Y

V further object of the invention'isto provide a clamp joint havingmeans for clamping two elements inA their longitudinally adjusted position, so constructed as to permit the elements tolbe rot-ated relative to .each other so as to secure vany desired angu- Alar adjustment of the elementsbvithout, howevcr, 'releasing any of the pressure of the clamp, and without in any way affecting the clampinglr action.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which tu'o' elements may be moved to any desired position Avertically or horizontallyby a slight push .or pull, and so formed that the elements will remain in their position until moved again.

A further Aobject of Vthe'invcntion is to provide a construction of this character in which the elements may be moved forward or backvard to shorten or lengthen them 45 v by slightly releasing,ir the clamping pressure.

relative'to the pivotal center of the elements A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping;` joint in which the grippmgvor clamping power of ascrew is used to simultaneously clamp both elements supported by the clamping joint, the device be.- ing so formed that the slackening or' tightening 'up-of .this one screw will'actto release both elements to permit of taai? f tudinal adjustment or will tighten up both elements.

Still another object is to provide afl-joint of this character in which two smootlcon- Patented Apr. 27, 19115.V

fronting bearing members are provided to which the two elements are clamped, these bearing members being rotated into`- frictional engagement with each other by the action of the clamp but being always in rotative engagement with each otherv so that the two .elements may be independently shifted with ,a minimum of effort.

( )ther objects will appearv in the course of 'Y the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of an elec tric light supporting bracket showing the adaptation ot' my joint for this purpose. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing another form of supporting bracket and showing inf dotted lines various positions of the arms oli rods of said bracket relative to the supporting standard and to each other. Fig.'3 isav side elevation of the forati of bracket shown in Fig. 2.` Fig. 4 is a' view half in section andhalf in elevation 'of the clamping joint whereby two rods may be supported rota.-

tively with relation to each other and clamped against longitudinal movement'or accidental rotation. Fig. 5 is a )erspective view of thevarious fmembcrs 0i nthe joint separated from each other.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same referentel characters.

While. I have shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 this flexible clamping joint as being applied to a bracket supporting an electric light, it is to be understood that this is purely for illustrative purposes and-that the clamping joint is designed by me to be used in a. large variety of other situations and is not limited in any way to the application illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 5l. in vieu' of this, it is lbest to first describe thc joint itself and later describe its application to the brackets `shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3.

Referring tlereforeV to Figs; 4 and 5, 2v designates one rod or like supported element an 3 another like rod. The jointvvhereby roos are supported comprises an outer hie or membre-nwhich as illus'tra'disI 1closed at one end for the 'purpose of preventing dust from accumulating Within the joint. It' is formed at the other end with a relatively wide head 5 and is also lformed with diametrically disposed perforations 6 or apertures for the transverse passage of the rod 3. v 1

" Disposed .within the thimble clamping member 4 and snugly litting therein, is a. hollow member 7 which has longitudinal ,movement with relation to the member 4.'

This'member 7 is formed at diametrically opposite points with the circular apertures 8 as shown best in Fig. 5 throughwhich the rod 3 passes. T he endof the member 7 ad'- jacent the headV 5 is formed with an inwardly projecting annular ange 9.

Engaging with the inwardly projectingv flange 9 of the member 7 is the enlarged head 10 of a blt 11. This bolt is shown as tubu lar in order that the weight of the bolt `shall be reduced, but it might be solid. T he bolt is provided with a smooth faced portion 12 and is transversely'apertured as at 13 for the passage of the element 2, this aperture 13 being elliptical in form for a purpose tov be later stated. 011e end of the bolt 11 opposite the -hea'd 10 is reduced as at 14: and screw threaded for engagement with an annular clamping nut 15 interiorly screw threaded and .provided with an enlarged i head 16 knurled upon its periphery so as to make it easy to turn. y

Disposed uponthe portion 12 of the bolt is an annular) clamping member 17 having a iiat end face 17a bearing against the flat face of the helrid 5 of the member 4:l and rotatable smoothly thereon. The Wall of the clamping member 17 is cut away at diametri,- cally oppositoints to form semicircular seats 181er the reception of the rod or velerment 2. Also disposed upon the smooth portion 12 ot' thebolt 11 is the eoacting clamping member 1t) having practically the same lorm as the member 17 and having its wall cut a wa y at diametrieally opposite points as at 20 Ato form semicircular seats 'coacting with the seats -15-5 and adapted to fit over the rod The inner end of the nut 15 bears against the outer end aceol this clamping member lf). l

With the parts considered as described, it will be seen that when thc Init 15 is turned up, the bolt ll is drawn longitudinally relalire'togtbe'clampingl nu-.mber il and that this u'ill cause a longitudinal movement ol the clamping member 7 relative to the clamping nwmber 4- which will carry the perforatious H out ol' coueentrieity with the yauloratons (3 and that as a consequence the clamping member 7 will bite upon the rod fl and the ruo clampingr members 4 and 7 -\\'ill be plarrd in clamping engagement withthe rod i5. Vla-rotation ol` the nut 15 will also draw the boli ll longitudinally with )elution 'to -th'eazlamping` members 17 and 19,whiehlis permitted by the'slpt or`elongated aperture in the bolt 11, and slmultaneously the clampin'g member 19 will be forced. tow-ardy the clamping member 17, thus securely clamping 'the rod 2 between the clamping members 17 and 19. lInasmuch as the bolt 11 has swiv- 15 and without in any way aotingto rotatev the nut 15 in a reverse direction w 1 eled engagement with one pair of clamping ch would cause the unscrewing of the nut. It will be 5 seen that viewed iu this light, the clamping members 17 and 19 act as'washersv between the nut 15 and the head 5 of membert. While the smooth contacting faces of the end of clamping member 17 and the Vhead 5 of clamping member Jrpermit these members 'to rotate smoothly against each other, yet it will be understood that a tightening up 'of the nut 15- will -force the clamping member 17 Aagainst the head 5 and thus i frictional engagement between the vlamping members so as to resist any acefldental rotative movement of the clamping member 17 with relation to the clam ing member 5.

T herods 2 and 3 it wf l be obvious when the nut 15 is reversely turned are longi-Vv tudinally shiftable through the apertures or seats in the clamping members, and theset rods r2 and 3 mayA also be rotated around their rlongitudinal axes. By my improved rease the,

joint, therefore, I secure the ability to adjust the rods 2 and 3 longitudinally with relation to the joint and with relation to each other to any desired position and also permit the rotation of these rods around their own axes and also hold the rods iniany angular-relation to each other vand 'yet permit said rods toA be readilyrotated with relation to each other to carry the rods into any desired angular relation. Aslight'pressure excrtedin turningthe thumb nut effectually clamps the one rod between theiclamping members 17 and A19, and it also effec-- Itually clamps thevothevr rod ory element by setting up a shearing pressure caused by the pull upon the clamping thimble and4 the eccentric relation thus caused betweenvon'e ol' the cylindrical clamping members It and the other clamping member 7. lt also exerts enough pressure between one oi the annular clai'rming members 17 und the` end of the clamping tbimblc or outer member 4 to pro-125 duce all the friction necessary-to the' proper working of the joint. l r i f' In this device there is prox-'nieu an clicctual application oll a mechanically pci'lect vise structure with the'added advantages of I y either of having; as its center the c nieuwe I flexibility or adjustability l.n that the elements 2 or B can be turned in any horizontal direction with reference to the other element without releasing any of the pressure of the clamp, and the elements 2 and 3 can be therefore made to describe any circle, arc or ortion of a circle amping joint, and this without releasing the clamping pressure. Thus the elements 2 or 3 ma be moved to any desired position, vertical y or horizontally/,by a slight push or pull and these elements will remain-in their position until moved again as the clamping pressure does not need to be released to accomplish these' movements. Further the elements 2 thorough and 3 may bemoved backward or forward joint li muy be rotated to shorten or lengthen them by releasing the clamping pressure slightly, or if one or both of thev elements 2 or 3 are supported, the damping joint itself may be moved into any desired osition with relation to these elements. thus secure e joint having all the .gripping or clamping uwer of a nut and bolt when tightened an has a-greater flex;n bility than a ball joint with none of the dis ad runtages of the ball joint.

stated, this joint is adaptable to' a large variety ofV uses needless to state at length. In Figs. l., 2 and 3 I have for illustration shown one of the uses of this joint and 'have shown the joint in connection with an electric light bracket or support. The elements 2 and 3 in Fig'. l constitute rods inserted through the adj uftable clamping joint illustrated in Fig. 4 and adjusta )le through'this joint and adjustable into angular relation to each other in a manner heretofore described. ihe rods are connected to each other by the joint und not only may the rod 3 be adjusted with relation joint A may be adjusted with relation to the rod 2 lon itudinally therealong.

f The rm 3 is shown as supporting an elec tric lamp and hood designated 20, and the rod 2 is shown extending through a clamping joint B which has exactly the same form 'as tbc joint A andas the'joint shown in Fig. 4. in this case, however, a vertical rod 5l is discscd upon a bracket 2l and the clamping upon this rod 3 as upon un axis or may be elevated or depressed upon this rod to any extent required.v The rod 2 may be rotated into angular relation to the rod Il in exactly the sume manner as the rod 2 may be angolari y adjusted relative to thc rod il. lt will thus be s ecn that the joint l and therefore the rods 2 and-1i may be vertically adjusted upon the rod 3"- or lowered or may bsrotated upon said rod 3*. The rod 2 :any he singularly adjusted relative 'to the clamping joint li und the. rod The joint A may be shiited longitudinally upon the rod 2, and the rod 3' may be singularly rotated adjusted relativsto the rod 2 adjustably supports As beforetu this joint A, but die' or be shifted through the clamping joint A or rotated with relation thereto'around its own axis.

IniFig. 2 exactly the same construction'is shown as in Fi 1, except in this case a standard 3" is ilustrated provided with a clamp 22 at one end whereby it ma be clamped eto a table or like` support. ertically shiftable `upon this standard 3* is the joint C which is exactly the same in con'- struction as the joint B and the clamping joint shown in Fig. d. through the joint C and is adjustable thereinV in the same manner as heretofore described, and shiftably mounted upon this rod 2 is the clamping joint A which isthe same as that heretofore described and which the rod 3 carrying the electric light`20. The dotted lines in this view show various positions to which the rods' 2 and 3 may be adjusted relative to the standard 3" and to each other and a number oi' ositions at which the lamp may be held.

lig. 3 is an enlarged view of the construction shown in Fig. 2 and therefore requires no separate description.

It is obvious that this clamping joint may be used for clamping and holding' in adjusted positions rods or lilceelern s for a varietyof purposes and it is al.' obvious l that a plurality of the clamping ljoints may be mounted upon either one or both of the rods 2 and 3 in turn supporting other rods or elements and that thus the device is very well adapted for supporting,r chemical apparatus sucliae test tubes, pipes', retortsetc.

While I have illustrated what I 4believe to be the best form of my device, and have illustrated one ofthe applications thereof, l wish it tdistinctly understood that it may be modified in many ways without de arting' from the spirit of the invention, an( as before stated may be applied to other uses than that shown.

While l have shown the thimble 4 and the member k7 as cylindrical, and have also shown the bolt li us cylindrical` I wish it distinctly understood that these members may be many-sided iu-'cross section, without in any way aiccting their operation, and

that it is entirely within the purview of my invention to form these members square, triangular, orcircular in cross section, as may be deemed best.

What I claim is: 1. A flexible joint of the character describ'e'd comprising two pairs of enacting .clamping members, a connecting member rotatively engaging one of the clamping members of one pair and both of the clamping members of the other pair, said connecting member, forming a common axis for the relative rotation of 'both of said pairs of members with relation vto each other, and roi-laas en seid connecting mmber whereby The rod 2passes- :tov

both pairs of clamping members may be simultaneously shifted into' or out 'of clamping position. f A Y 2. A flexible* joint of the character de 'scribed including two pairs of eoacting clamping members, va connecting bolt passing through both pairs of clamping members and forming a common axis upon which both pairs of clamping members ma'yturn relative'to each other, and a nut engaging said'connecting bolt, saidv nut bearing against one member of one pair ofy said clamping members A to shift it andsaid bolt also engaging one member of the oth'er pair of clamping members to also shift it when the nut is turned.

3. A flexible joint of the character dei scribed includingtwo pairs of clamping mem-v bers, one of the members of one pair being longitudinally shiftable relative to the other,

Aa bolt having swiveled engagement Awith one of said clamping members, a clamping member through which said bolt passes and bearing against the vother of said first named pair. of; clampin members, a clampingmember coacting with the third named clamping member and through which the bolt passes,

and a nut engaging said tbolt and bearing againsfthe last named clamping member whereby when the nut is turned .up it will force the clamping members of each pair into clamping engagement with each other.

4.. A y.joint of the character described including an outer member i'ieri'oratedjl'or the passage` of a supported element, an inner member also perforated for 'the passage of said element, opposed coasting nia .ng-ing jaws rotatable with relation to the vtirst named members and connai-,ted thereie. sail clamping jaws being adapted ,to masivo an 40 element to besupported between them, and' means -for simultaneously shifting the inst two members into or 1)ut of a position of eccentricity and relativ'elj,7 shifting the jaws toward. or from each other to therebyv multaiieeusly clamp or nnclamp both oi" said supported elements.

5. A fieXible A.joint of the character de'- scribed, including an outer member having oppositely disposed perforations for the passage of an element to be clamped, an in- 'ner member having sliding engagement with the OiitQFInember and formed with oppothe passage ofthe supported element, a

acting annular clamping member lthrough i whiclilsaid bolt passes and also formed with a seat confronting the seat on the last named clamping member, and a nut leng 2;agi1 .igthe threaded end ofl the bolt and -when turned home engaging the last Anamed 'clamping l member to thereby force the two annuin :-v clamping members toward each other Land* shift the second named inner clamping member out of concentricity with the first named outer clampin member to thereby clamp the joint simu taneouslyv both upon said sup'ported members.

6. A joint of the character described Vin-y cluding an outer member perforated for the passage of a supported element, an inner member sliding within the outer'- member and also correspondingly perforated for the passage of said element, a bolt having a swivel'ed engagementl with the inner memn ber, and a nut engaging said bolt and o peratively engaging .against the adjacent end of the outer clamping member whereby, when the nut is turned, to draw the bolt and the inner clamping member longitudinally with relation to the outer clamping member.

7. The combinationV with a .pair of rods,r

Vof clamping devices, one for each rod, said sitely disposed perforations for the 'passage of saidelernent, said inner clamping ,meinber h`av1ng an inwardly directed iangc at its outer end, a clamping bolt having a head.

rotatively engaging the inner side face of said ihn-ngc,4 said bolt being cylindrical for a portion of its length and being transversely periomted for the passage oi a supported element. a Achonpingf member having the form of an annnbxs amlthrmigh lwhich the boit pas-fsw?, said 'clamping member bini-ingaganst tbz; und lince of tho outer first named member and being formed with a seat for vices toward each other and intoclamping.

engagement with said rods.

The combinationV with a pair of rods, of a hollow" member having oppositely disposed perforati ons lthrough which one of said rods passes, a tubular'member inclosed within the hollow member and longitudinally slidable therein and having oppositely disposed perforations through which the said rod passes, a bolt having swiveled engagement with said inner tubular/memberand extending out beyond thesame and'perforated for tbc passage of the other rod, annular clamping confronting seats for the ception of the last named rod, and a nut sc ewthreaded on the bolt and when turned up bearing against one of said last namd clamping members to thereby force the last named clamping members toward each other and into frietional engagement with the first named clamping men'iber and simultanefing members surrounding said bolt and havl ously shift the innen tubular member to carry its perfor-ations mit of ooncentricity with the erfortions of the outer member. l0. A exime joint of the character described including two pairs of co-acting clamping members, a connecting bolt passing through'bth pairs o-clamping members and forming a common axis upon which both pairs of clamping members may be turned Vrelative to each other, and a nut engaging said connecting bolt, said nut bearing against one memberof one pair of said clamping members to shift it, and said nut also engaging one member f the other pair of eimnping menibei#J to shift it when the nut is turned, each pair of dumping members being formed with seats for the passage of e supported element, and the mit being provided with an elongated aperture through which the Corresponding supported element passes.

ln testimony whereof I uiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. KLORISR. [14.5.]

1Vi'itnesses:

ROBERT C. Homme, F. P. MARTIN. 

